













great!
After eating here 2-3-10 both myself and eating partner developed food poisoning. When I called the management, they were rude, helpless and insisted I was lying.
NOT WORTH IT.
Located on the top floor of the Huntley hotel, the Penthouse hosts the best ocean and city views in a Santa Monica restaurant. Period. I've been bringing friends and family visiting from out of town to this place since it was Toppers, that is, until my last visit.
Its a fantastic place for a lunch or pre-dinner cocktails. Expect to spend around $15 for a cocktail. The decor is modern, posh a...
I tried out The Penthouse for a second time since they are participating in Dine LA's Restaurant Week hoping it would be better than my first experience, and I was wrong.
The food was far below the standards of what you usually get for those prices (soggy blueberries, overwhelming lemon in the salad dressing, and gray meat - that is NOT medium). And the service was worse. Granted I went on a S...
The service and ambiance at The Penthouse is second to none. For this reason alone, it should be on your list of places to try in LA. The food is good, some of the dishes are excellent (the tomato Mozzarella flatbread, mac and cheese and all dessert were highlights for me), while others are a miss (salmon). The wait staff is incredible, as are the swaky booths overlooking the pacific.
The...
Great girls night spot or date night as well.
There's no denying that this place is beautiful and the view is amazing especially on the ocean side. I was really looking forward to having brunch here for a special occasion but was very disappointed. The food was very mediocre and really overpriced for the quality and taste. The service left much to be desired. We had to ask to order. We weren't even offered bread until after our appetizers ar...
Great place to meet for drinks especially for a date or with out of town friends. The views are amazing, try to head over before sunset. Sunday bruch offers spectacular views on a clear day. The food is good and I've gone during brunch and had a work lunch there. Its typical hotel restaruant food fare. The cocktails are good but you go to the Penthouse for the atmosphere and view.
This restaurant has an excellent location, in the top floor of The Huntley Hotel, and the food was very good. Unfortunately, the staff keeps dishing out billing discrepancies. At first, the waitress gave us a bill with several drinks from the bar, which were not ours. Then, we asked her to split the bill down the middle and she couldn't get that right. After calling the restaurant several tim...
Going to The Penthouse was for dinner was interesting as I have never gone for food- mainly just the drinks. But I was very pleased with everything- from the service to the high quality, very reasonablely priced dinner. A great place to go for dinner and then hang out afterwards for some after dinner cocktails. I will certainly do it again!
I tell you what.... I did not like this place the first time I went for dinner and I was not overjoyed to hear that my girlfriends were going to meet there for cocktails... but I went again hoping for a better experience.
It was like night and day.
At first when the pretty, petite, annoyingly perfect, waitress in a little black dress and knee-high boots, I thought, here we go again... B...
Had dinner with my family and we all were impressed by the layout. The food was incredible with a nice starter off with Pork belly with pickled cauiflower and hard boiled egg, Frizee salad, then an amazing pepper crusted tuna follow by black forest brownie sundae to finish my night. What a meal. Thank you Penthouse.
This is, by far, the best looking restaurant in L.A. I was there at night but can just imagine that the views during the day are breathtaking. The crowd and food was great!!! Just reserved a table for my birthday dinner next week. Highly recommend it!!
I've known of the Penthouse for quite some time, but I didn't have the occasion to visit until I was entertaining some out-of-town guests. Why had I waited so long?! No one needs to wait for an occasion to see and experience this fantastic place! I've heard so many wonderful things about the Penthouse-- now I know what all the rave is all about! The food is phenomenal, so much so that I even retu...
My husband and I finally decided to try the Penthouse restaurant at the top of the Huntley Hotel this weekend and all I have to say is? I cannot believe we waited so long!!!! We were greeted with a warm smile by an adorable hostess and loved the vibe of the place as we were escorted to our table. This is definitely where the beautiful people come to imbibe! Everything was perfect from beginnin...
I am Italian and very particular about dining out. I appreciate all types of cuisine and i would recommend The Penthouse to a food lover that would like to spend some memorable time in a excellent ambiance. The first time i went with my girlfriend the experience exceeded my expectations. It was not only about the view, but a great service, and refined food. I went back for other occasions because...
I love the restaurant and the bar was amazing! I would recommend it for a night out on the town or even just a drink at the end of the day and it is a perfect place for a romantic getaway! The food was tasty and worth every dollar! try the chocolate deserts!!!!!!!
The views are amazing!! The food was really good, but not the best I've ever had. Our waiter was extremely friendly and went above and beyond to make our experience memorable. I did request a window table since it was a bday, but didn't get it. The decor is really cool (window side tables with chandeliers are nice!) I've been to most trendy/high end places in LA since I live here and its most def...
I will not go back!
I was there this past Sunday. the Huntley has the worst customer service in Los Angeles. When I got there the valet didn't come to assist me and merely pointed to drive off the drive-way. They never open my car door and ask to assist me. Then the waiter at the Penthouse forgot our order while other late comers already had their food served. Our breakfast took more than two ho...
Ok, it deserves more than the two stars I gave it... but I had to bring some balance to the people who are giving it five. My major complaint: This is santa monica, not the club of the month in hollywood. Just made me miss toppers? on the plus side the views are still great, even if the food and service aren?t 5 star anymore.
the decor and the view are amazing !!! The wait staff was helpful and friendly.
the appetizers were good, i recommend the crab cakes, but both main courses that i had and that of my business partner was way over cooked,
and average at best.
when mentioned to the manager, he was extremely condescending.
will we return? I dont think so.
Stunning views - attentive wait staff - food to die for! But be prepared to pay for it - this is not a cheap hamburger stand on the beach. Try the fois gras, the truffle potato chips and the cheese tray, the seasonal dishes are wonderful (Lobster Mac & Cheese!) AND the old favories are there. We get 3 entree's and some sides for 4 people and are stuffed so I dont get the underfed reviews. ...
Sunday Night at 7:00pm. First time here. Met some out of town friends here for drinks and a possible bite if a table was available. View is one of a kind in Santa Monica apart from getting a hotel ocean view room at any of the Ocean side hotels in the area. For the type of establishment cost of drinks were already anticipated not to be TGIF cheap. Atmosphere was comfortable with seats availa...
loved it! went for breakfast, the view was stunning, excellent atmosphere, coffee was great....it's a must! when the weather is beautiful def. add this to your list! i think it is def. a better breakfast place due to the view during the day is breath taking!
There is no need to tell me that you don't allow t shirts, ripped jeans and sneakers at your stupid bar when all I'm calling for is booth information AND after I've been there 10 times. This is not Vegas...The view is beautiful, drinks pricey, wait staff OK and food borderline..but when you used to be called Toppers and now fancy yourself to be a Hollywood style lounge in Santa Monica, you really...
My girlfriends and I had dinner the other night and had our own private cabana which was great. The decor was all white with hints of green and brown. The place itself has some of the best views in the city bar none. Even the ladies' room had a fantastic view.
Our server , Noelle, was not only attentive and knowledgeable about the menu and gave great recommendations, but he was so hot! He ...
The experience at The Penthouse was not as good as the other reviews I've seen online. The receptionist was not very friendly when we actually arrived 10 minuts earlier than our reserved time. So she asks us to hang around at the bar becasue the table won't be ready until 20-25 mins later. So my boyfriend and I went to the bar, but the bar have only average selection of wines. And the overall set...
older crowd, beautiful space, great flatbread and some decent wines by the glass. The women's bathroom is really great - one has an AMAZING view (odd, I know, but it is true)
The beautiful view from the 18th floor is handicapped with huge curtains between the tables, and the big tables that sit 6-8 people stay empty since there rarely are so many people in a party,. And don't you dare try to sit there if you are 2 or 3 ! So the best to do is go early before 6pm, that is before the crowds, and sit at the huge bar and have your drink, you may eat there too but try to ...
I LOVE the Penthouse...for its beauty (Thomas Schoos is truly a design genius), the views, the service and the food (especially the desserts)! I don't know if previous reviewers who complained about the food actually tasted any of it. If they had, they would have used words like adventurous, well-executed and inspired (not bland or mediocre...far from it). The calamari with guaca-tartar sauce was...
For a place with such potential, it is sad to see it wasted by having staff incompetent of simple tasks such as smiling. This is not a Hollywood nightclub! Walk in the door and after being treated like you need to have the looks of a supermodel to get in, you finally get upstairs and greeted (or should I say not greeted) by a hostess who seemed more involved in her conversation with a co-worker...
This place is great for a drink, but the dining was really disappointing. First of all, our food came out 10 min after we placed the order. One of the people at our table hadn't even finished his appetizer! Also, since it came out so quickly, it was obvious the food had be reheated. My sea bass was dry. Not acceptable for a $40 entree. The waitstaff was slow and unattentive. Also, this place is s...
This place has the VERY BEST views of the city and is a wonderful dining setting.
Sadly the good stuff ends there. The food although unique is not really good. Nothing poor...just mediocre.
Even the deserts fall flat. And in trying to be hip and appeal to 20 somethings who are there to dress and impress, the place is too loud to even hold a dinner conversation! Furthermore the very best tables ...
We were overall disappointed. We regularly dine at Hollywood and Beverly Hills Restaurants but thought we would take in a change of scenery. The Penthouse tries to be chic and have the whole red rope thing going. Come on guys, this location is by the beach how hollywood can you get? When you first walk in all you hear is loud noice. The room is extremely noisy. We were not seated on time for ...
Beautiful space. Great bar scene for those in 20s. Food definitely a let down. High aspiration but mediocre execution for the price. Unimaginative wine list. VERY noisy (not just a sceney buzz). Worst though is overagressive busboys (my friends had the same complaint on another night) removing plates too quickly - attempting to turn tables to get the next check seated (and I'm a fast eater)...
My boyfriend and I went to The Penthouse Sunday night for dinner and overall it was a good experience. The view is amazing. We didn't get a table by the window with ocean view as requested in our reservations but we still enjoyed the view while lounging at the bar. The place had great decor, and the views again are probably the best I ever seen. The drinks were pretty good, and the food was okay...
I am a big fan of The Penthouse! Not only is the crowd hip, happening, and full of good-looking people, the 360 degree view of Los Angeles combined with the stylish decor of the restaurant make this a place I want to hang out at all of the time. In reading all of the below reviews, I think people need to give the place a break - it's brand new after all! The food is so delicious and absolutely ...
The Huntley looks good but get upstairs to The Penthouse and be ready to wait and wait. We were seated quite quickly but then it took forever to order drinks and when we did my 2 friends were served flat champagne. They returned it and were told that they had to order something else, they did and that wasn't available either. We had to ask for a bread basket after everyone around us had one an...
New space clean, chic and, well designed, requisite dark brown server uniforms. Complete with service worthy of Chili's or islands and decidedly bland and over priced food. We at there for lunch with in the group of 6, not one soda refilled, chicken sandwiches were reported by the two who had them as flat bad; the burger came out with the wrong cheese on it- if i wanted no choice in my burger I'...
The Penthouse Restaurant is one of the best restaurants I have been to. When I walked into the place all I couls say is WOW...The food was absolutely amazing. I started the flatbread with checken which is their version of pizza. I also had the green crunch salad which i higly reccomned. The salmon was also incredible. The service was excellent. I go there regurarly after work on Fridays. G...
This is by far the best of the best in Santa Monica, Nothing beats the view, the cuisine or the service.My husband and I celebrated our Valentine's day there and everything was exceptional. I would highly recommend it it to all of my friends and family.
One word, Can I jus have my private Cabana? This is totally awesome. I love it, my girlfriends and I had so much fun , and the wait was defin itely worth it. Very hip, trendy, classy and who knows, you might just spot Paris Hilton!!
We have been coming here since the 80's and I have to really say that this is very very chic, elegant and the food is to die for. My favorite experuience for a brand new restaurant , with incredible views of the sunset and located in an equally beautiful hotel.
This is truly incredible and just breathtaking
I always loved going to Topper (place that was before "The Penthouse") and always received a good service. Food was great too and their margaritas were just amazing but this new Penthouse place is not worth it.
To make is short. Place is extremely loud. Service is HORRIBLE, bartenders are EXTREMELY mean. One of the examples, they pretended like they don't hear you and make you scream so they c...
It's really too bad when a cheesy vibe takes hold of one of the best views in the city. I sort of felt bad for the waitstaff -- short low cut uniforms straight outta 1987 that seemingly only served to make the rest of the women in the bar feel attractive and stylish (no easy feat). Minus 5 points.
For people who call this place *classy*. . .I am reminded of when my sister explained to me tha...
This place looks nice, but that's where the niceties end. I have never seen worse service in my life and that all should be attributed to the lack of skilled management. Sad to say but in rder for this place to be even worth visiting again, they will have to rehire the waitstaff, the bartenders, the management and the chef. Not impressed with the service, the prices, the drink pours, etc. Goo...
Despite the slow service and lackluster entrees, the Penthouse is still a must see. I met up with some friends for dinner on a Thursday. Upon entering the restaurant, we stepped into an ambiance of beach chic: white hot leather, lacquer and chandeliers punctuated by sweeping sea to city views. This stunning atmosphere draws a crowd, so be forewarned that the boisterous bar crowd which overflo...
The service is horrible. We personally came here on Thursday night to make our reservation for Saturday night. The hostess confirmed our reservation for 7.30pm. When we did show up on that Saturday night at 7.33pm she said that she had already cancelled our reservation because she ?didn't think we would show up?. Oh yes, she really did say that to us. We then told her that our reservation was fo...
My friends and I were very excited to try it out. We went last night for dinner and the place looks great, very reminiscent of the Viceroy. The service was decent, not spectacular by any means. We had to ask to get our water filled up. They screwed up a wine order. No biggie, they've only been open for 2 weeks and have to work out the quirks. I'm still trying to figure out why the chef wants t...
Unfortunately the great design and amazing views at the newly refurbished (and renamed) Penthouse can't make up for its terrible service. My wife and I went for an afternoon drink today, and to call the service sluggish would be a gross understatement. We were told by the hostess to take any table and that table service was available. We sat at a recently vacated table, and waited about 10+ min...
TO BEGIN...THE BAR.....WOW....HUGE WITH AMAZING GIRLS ALL OVER TAKING ORDERS IN CUTE UNIFORMS MAKING ZESTY MOJITOS.
WITH DINNER I LOVE A GOOD GLASS OF WINE AND WAS PLEASED WITH THE WINE LIST. VERY PLAVORFUL APPETIZERS THAT ONE MIGHT NOT EXPECT WITH STEAK....NOT THE MASTROS TYPE AT ALL....MORE LIKE A THE LODGE MEETS THE BEACH WITH FLAVOR AND NOT SO DULL AND DRY. PIZZA TO START IS A MUST.......
I went to the Penthouse with three friends for dinner and it was absolutely amazing. When I walked in, I was especially impressed by the large, modern open fireplace and the overall interior design. Everything looks so fresh and inspiring.
For the appetizer, I had the chicken flatbread which was a nice size portion and very good. For the main course I had the scallops and they were to die for!...
I went to Penthouse last week for dinner -- I was blown away! I read about this restaurant in Daily Candy and had to go see for myself - - I was totally impressed. The whole hotel is absolutely gorgeous, but the restaurant was like no other in LA. My husband and I first had a cocktail by this fireplace and got a chance to look at the stars -- there is a retractable roof that's spectacular. Then w...
All I can say is, wow! What a cozy experience we all had having cocktails by the fireplace looking out at the spectacular view of the city and the sea. The Penthouse is so cool and hip, trendy and vibrant. Check out the view of the stars through the reflector ceilings and feel the cool and inviting ocean breeze on warm and balmy days. We sat in a cozy cabana, allowing for privacy and great peopl...
I made reservations for dinner at Penthouse on Friday night after reading about it on Daily Candy. I loved this place! The decor is very cool, with candles everywhere and a giant fireplace that gives the restaurant and lounge a lot warmth. Our waiter was awesome, and recommended the steak and the chicken -- both were delicious. After dinner, the bar/lounge area was really happening, so we lounge...
i had dinner at this place the week that it opened and it is amazing. the views of the ocean at sunset are mind blowing and once the sun goes down, the sparkling city lights mesmerizing. i went for an intimate dinner for two with my boyfriend and we tucked into a corner table and shared delicious crabcakes, he had the signature scallops that were perfectly cooked and i had the surf and turf tha...
My girlfriend and I stayed at the Huntley this weekend and was very impressed. It definitely one of the nicest places to stay in Santa Monica for the money. Anyway, The Penthouse...the view and decor is definitely amazing. BEST VIEW IN TOWN! We had two meals there. One for breakfast and one for lunch...plus a midday cocktail once. The food is average at best. Breakfast was lacking in that it was ...
This Duffer's guy review is totally lame! The guy is an idiot. The place is totally AMAZING
The new Penthouse is warm, inviting, yet hip and chic.
The food is fantastic but approachable. The new chef has won tons of awards. We stayed at the hotel and I brought my 2 year old for lunch. The stafff could not have been nicer. My husband and I got a babysitter and went back for an unbelievable d...
In one word, The Penthouse is amazing!! My boyfriend took me there to celebrate my birthday. Not only was the restaurant absolutely beautiful (the all white decor), the food was delicious. I ate the scallops and flatbread (amazing) and my boyfriend had the steak. I swear the steak tasted better than BOA! Also, the service was impeccable. Everyone is so attentive and kind. It is definitely ...
"The Penthouse," was previously known as Toppers. Toppers was a fantastic bar/restaurant. Easily the best happy-hour in Los Angeles, great happy-hour entrees and dinner entrees with a striking view of Santa Monica and the Santa Monica Bay. However, ten months ago Toppers closed down for "remodeling." It opened five days ago. I am shocked and appalled at how much they screwed this place up. ...
I had lunch at this place with my girlfriend on Valentine's Day. Upon arriving, the valet staff was very friendly. You have to enter the hotel lobby and take the elevator to the 18th floor to get to the restaurant. The lobby, however, is not like any other I've seen. It rivals the Standard in Downtown LA and makes the W Hotel look like a Motel 6! Let me just say, the building is old and historic,...
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